Table



Dec. 26, 1939. T E MQFALL 2,184,976

TABLE Filed Feb. 20, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllllllllf hmlow E NeT-all Dec. 26, 1939. T E, MCFALL 2,184,976

TABLE Filed Feb. 20, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 S S e Z5 Se /z r2 0 a, 0 ze 96 e a,

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Z4- il ve/ N' '9 58 1 s 20 I 0 1 1 s 15 e /3 I. 8 r f? zz f o o e '2' 15 'l' 23 'I8 Z5 jg); O c@ @KS Ef Y@ "4 Il /l/ 11g/z ,9 zo b la f Thmlow :E McFll 3 EDM um l Ahwn Dec. 26, 1939.

T. E. MCFALL 2,84,976

TABLE Filed Feb. 20, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 26, 1939 i UNrrso STATES TABLE Thurlow E. McFall, Sparta, Mich., 'assignor to Michigan Artcraft Company, Sparta, Mich., a v corporation of Michigan Application February 20, 1939, Serial No. 257,343

Claims.

This invention relates to tables. In rooms where space is restricted it is very desirable that a table in such room may be operated so as to take up a relatively small amount of space whenr Y ju;n serve the purpose of a corner stand or desk.

My invention is concerned with producing a Vtable of the character described which can be readily changed from one condition to the other and which, when serving either as a table or a "corner desk, will be strong and sturdy and fully capable of sustaining the service to which it *isv subjected. A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction for the purposes stated, which is practical for economical and commercial production. v

The invention may be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing the'structure when it has been retracted to its smaller space occupying position and in which it may be located at a corner of a room.

, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1 at the time of the completion of the first steps in converting the structure into a table having a horizontal circular top.

Fig. 3 is an under plan view. of the structure when it has been completelyA converted into a table. v Fig. 4 is a fragmentary Vertical section taken on a vertical plane substantially midway between the sides of Fig. 1. p

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary somewhat enlarged elevation at the rear of the left hand side of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail in elevation illustrating the hinged connection of bars to which sectors of the table top are hingedly connected.

' Fig. '7 is a fragmentary vertical section substan-l tially 0n a plane corresponding to line lof Fig. 1, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section substantially on' the plane of line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different gures of the drawings.

In the construction shown are three vertical supporting legs I, 2 and 3. The legs l and '2,` which may be termed outer legs, are connected adjacent their upper ends by a curved rail or apron il. Bars 5 extend between each of the legs I and '2 and the inner leg 3 a short distance below the upper ends of said legs. A flat bar 6 extends from the inner leg 3 outwardly to substantially the middle point of the curved apron 4 (Fig. 8). The legs l, 24 and 3, the bars 5 and 6 and the apron fl, are rigidly secured together, making a rigid frame.

' A horizontal sector l of a top is located over s the upper ends of the legs I, 2 and 3 and over the upper edge of the apron d, and is permanently secured thereto. Such sector 1 supplies onequarter of the complete table top. Two sectors il, each one-half the width of the sector l, are hingedly connected at their outer edges to the outer edgesl of sector 'I and are adapted to be folded overto lie upon the'part 1, as shown in Fig. 1. The hingesindicated at 8a in Figs. 2 and 7 are of a concealed type which do not show from above when the parts 8 are folded outwardly through an arc oivlbf" to lie in the same plane with the part 1. When thus outwardly unfolded, one-half of the table top is provided.

Two horizontal bars `9 and l0 are hingedly connected at adjacent ends by a hinge I I, which has a vertical hinge pintle IIa extended downwardly (Figs. 4 and (5) below the hinge. The hinge I I is located at the rear of the center leg 3, which at its upper end is recessed as at I2, to provide space for entrance of the hinge when the parts of the table are drawn together, as will hereafter ap-A pear. A board I3 of the shape best shown in Fig. 3, is connected to the bar 9 and extends forwardly therefrom and has an outer curved edge with whlch'is connected a curved rail Ill. Similarly, a board I5 is secured to the bar IIJ and extends forwardly therefrom, has a curved edge and a o curved rail ifi connected therewith. The radius ofthe rail i6 is less than that of the rail Ill and the board I5 is located in a higher plane than the board I3, whereby the two bars El and Ill may be swung inwardly toward each other about the axis .of the hinge pintle` I Ia, so as to bring said bars 9 and I0 into substantial parallelism with the l frame bars 5', and as shown in Fig. 4, with the parts I5 and IB located over the part I3 and with the 5 curved rail I6 within the curved rail I4. Rollers ll mounted upon suitable brackets are connected to the front outer end portions of the rails I4 and. IS, (Fig. 8) and are adapted 'to bear against the under side of the top sector l.r When swung out- 55 wardly, so as to bring the bars 9 and l0 in horizontal alinement, as in Figs. 2 and 3, the bracketsv lia and passes forwardly through a horizontal.

opening in the leg 3. Its front end has pivotal connection to a rod 2i! which extends in a forward direction underneath the bar d, and at its front end is connected to'- aI hand lever 2i pivotally mounted at one end on a bracket 22 secured to the under side of the` bar i5 (Fig. 3). The connection or" the rod 2d to the hand lever 2l is at a short distance from the pivot of the hand lever. Swinging the hand lever in a clockwise direction thereupon causes the rod 2li and bar igto be moved longitudinally and thus moves the hinge lV l', the connected bar l t and the members i3, iii, i5 and i6 secured thereto forwardly. In this movement it willv be noted that the brackets carrying the rollers l?, engaging against the inner sides of the stops f8, may be moved directly forward, the sides of the stops i3 being' parallel to each other and parallel to the forward direction of movement imparted tothe bar hinge H and associated' and connected parts.

A top sector or quadrant 23 is hingedly connected by hinges 24 to andat the rear of the bar l?.A Similarly, a like top sector 25 is hingedly connected by hinges 2li to the rear portion of the bar lil. The two quadrants 23 and at their meeting edges are hingedly connected by hinges shown at Elia in Fig. 5. When the bars S andY lli have been moved outwardly into horizontal alinement with each other, as in Fig. 2, the two topsectors 23 and 25 are in the same plane and may then both'together be lowered to a horizontal position, as in Fig. 2.

Each of the top sectors 23 and 25 is designed to. be supportedby a vertical leg 2S pivotally mounted at its upper end on a bracket 2l, secured to the under side and toward the outer curved edge of its associated top sector. The legs are releasably retained in vertical position or in folded The movement position by spring members 2B.

' of the two top sectors 23 and 25 to horizontal position is with the hand lever 2 lreleased, whereby ample space is provided so that the parts 8 may afterward be turned outwardly. Then the table top is closed by swinging the hand lever 2| in a clockwise direction, drawing the parts snugly together. It will be observed that the rod 20 will pass from one side to the other ofY the center ofthe pivot about which the hand lever 2l turns, and thus there is provided a secure lock against separation of the parts of the table top.

Cooperating interengaging spring catches 29 and 3Q on the bars 9 and lll and', shown in Fig. 3', are provided so that when the bars 9 and l@ are swung forwardly the catches 2S thereon will engage with the cooperating catch members 30 on the bars 5, to hold the bars 9 and l2 against accidental rearward movement.

When the construction is in its retracted and folded form as in Fig. l, the top sections 8' are folded over and lie upon the underneath section 1', the top sectors 23 and 25 are in vertical position and have been turned, through their hinge 'connections at 2da, to lieY at right angles to each other. The bars 9 and iii' have been swung forwardly so that the interengaging catches 29 and 313 are in operative engagement. The legs 26 are folded against the rearsides of the top members 23 and 25, as in Fig. 5. ln such position the structure is adapted to be placed in a corner of a room where it will occupy small space and the horizontal top provided by the two members 2,

may be readily used as a desk top or thelike.

When the structure is toI be converted into a J A, l

table, the rst operation after the` structure has been brought out into the middle part of the A room, is to swing the ytwo top sectors 23 and 2h This will disinto alinement with each other. engage the catchesy 29 and 3Q and move the bar-s 9. and l. into alineinent with each other. Such movement is stepped when the brackets carryin'g the. rollers il come against the stops i8. The

two hinged together sectors 23 and 25 are thenV turned downwardly to horizontal position, ther supporting legs 26 having first been turned so as to take a verticalA position to support the sectors.

when they reach horizontal position. The'parts 8' are then turned outwardly. 'been done; between the adjacent edges of the parts 8 and the forward edges of the sectors'Y When this has` and' 25' there will' be a gap or space which is closed v by grasping the handle 2l and moving it counterclockwise to the position in Fig. 3. Said gap is closed' and the parts drawn together with cooperating pins or pegs shown best in Figs. 2' entering turn to the position shown in Fig. l is by reversal of these movements, iirst releasing the lock by turning the handle member 2l counterclockwise,

.30. the corresponding sockets or recesses to receiveI them in the adjacent parts of the top. The re# then swinging the parts. 3T over onto the under-I l neath top section l, after which the two sectors 2E' and' Z5 are turned to` verticalposition, and

then swung to the position shown in Fig.fl at I right angles to each other, with an automatic interengagement of the catches 29 and 33 astliey Of course the sup-.

reach their 'nal positions. porting legs 26' are folded, as in Fig. 5, against the adjacent sides of their associated top mem-` bers 23 and 25.

The construction described is very zr'ractical and useful', is readily manufactured. and assembled and is very easily converted to occupy' the small space shown i'n Fig. 1,01'. the larger.

space where it 'is a table with a. horizontal top, as in Fig. 2. While the disclosure shows a table of circular outline with. the several parts i, 8,23 and 25 as sectors of a circl'e it is to be understood Athat sai'd parts l', 8, 23 and 25 are notnecessaril'y v restricted to outer curved edges inA the arc of a circle, but may be of a different shape and. outline than shown. For example, the sections of the table topI may be designed. so that. the coni-A pleted table top will be 'rectangular or square in outline. scalloped' or other and different departing from the invention.

'Ihe invention is dened in the appended: claims and' is to be considered comprehensive-- of all forms of structure coming within their scope. I claim: l 1. I'n a constructiony of the class described, a support including vertical supporting. legs located,` substantially at the api'ces of a triangle, connections between said legs, a top sect-ion comprisingy forms without 'substantially one-quarter of the area of a'table top Xedly secured to and* over the legs, other top sections each one-half the area of' the rst: top

Likewise the outer edges may .be off azil section hinged at the side edges. thereof, and

adapted to fol'd' thereover or be unfolded to `lie in the same horizontal plane therewith, two additional top sections hingedly connected together at one edge, horizontal bars hingedly connected together adjacent their meeting ends, to each of which'one ofv said two additional top sections is hingedly connected, said bars being adapted to be moved into alinement with each other and thereby locate said additional top sections in the same plane, whereupon they may be turned downwardly to a horizontal position, each of said additional top sections having an area equal to one-fourth of the top and when in horizontal position completing the top, and a foldable leg connected to each of said additional top sections adapted to be turned to vertical position when the additional top sections are disposed in horizontal position.

2. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 1, combined with a rod conected wth said hinge, and manually operable means fordrawing said rod longitudinally to bring said additional top sections against adjacent top sections when unfolded to a horizontal plane and retain them against each other in close edge engaging relation, as specified.

3. In a table, an inner and two outer spaced apart vertical supporting legs located substantially at the apices of a triangle, bars connecting the inner leg with said outer legs, said bars being located a short distance below the upper ends of said legs, amember extending between and connecting said outer supporting legs, a top section located over and permanently secured at the upper ends ofthe legs, said top section being substantially one-quarter of the area of a complete table top, other top sections hinged one to each side edge of the first top section, each having an area of one-eighth of the complete table top and adapted to be both folded onto the first top section and lie thereover or unfolded to lie in the same horizontal plane therewith, two horizontal bars hingedly connected at their adjacent ends, said hinge lying adjacent but back of the inner supporting leg, said hingedly connected bars being adapted to be turned to one position where they are in longitudinal alinement and to another position where they parallel the irst mentioned bars, an additional top section hingedly connected at the rear edge of each of said hinged bars, means for hingedly connecting said additional top sections at their adjacent edges, each of said additional top sections having an area of onefourth of the complete table top, said hingedly connected bars when moved into longitudinal alinement carrying the top sections hinged thereto into a common plane whereby they may be turned from a vertical position to a horizontal position or vice versa, and when in vertical position may be moved with the hinged bars to which attached to lie at an angle to each other and against the edges of the nrst xed top section.

4. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 3, combined with a member attached to each of said hinged bars adjacent its outer end and extending underneath the fixed top section, and a roller secured at the free end of each of said members to ride against the under side of the nrst top section, said members being movable inwardly toward each other when the hinged bars are swung toward each other.

5. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 3, combined with a curved member connected adjacent the outer end of each of said hinged bars and extending, one

over each of the coimectingbars between the inner and outer legs, a horizontal plate secured to each of said hinged bars and toits associated curved member, and rollers mounted at the free ends of each of vsaid curved members bearing against the under side of the xedtop section. 6. A construction containing the elements in combination dened in claim 3, combined with a bar extending between and connected at its ends to the inner leg and to the connecting member between the outer legs, a rod secured at one end to said hinge, and a manually operable lever` pivotally mounted at one end onsaid last men tioned bar, said rod having a connection to said handle a short distance from its point oi pivotal connection, whereby on turning the handle in one direction, the rod is moved longitudinally to move the hinge and the bars hingedly connected thereby in a forward direction.

7. A table construction comprising, a horizontal top section having an area substantially equal to one-quarter of the area of a complete top,` supporting means xed thereto, two additional top sections each having an area of substantially' one-fourth of the area of the complete top hingedly connected together, means associated therewith comprising two bars hingedly connected together end to end, one of said addi tional top sections being hinged to each of said bars whereby said additional top sections when the hinged bars are in alinement with each other are located in a common plane and may be turned to either a vertical ora horizontal position, and in vertical position turned to liey at right angles to'each other and against the edges oi the first top section, means operatively connecting the additional top sections to the iirst top section and its supports, and two other top sections, each one-half the area of the rst top section adapted to lie thereover or to be located in a horizontal plane between its -side edges and said additional top sections, as specified.

8. In a table, a horizontal top section, two other top sections, each one-half'the area of the nrst top section adapted to lie thereover or to be located in the same horizontal plane therewith, two additional top sections each of the same area as the nrst top section hingedly connected together at one edge of each thereof, means to which said additional top sections are hingedly connected whereby the additional top sections against when said additional top sections are in vertical position and to extend downwardly therefrom when in horizontal position.

9. In a table, a top section having side edges converging toward and meeting at a point, supporting legs permanently connected thereto, two other top sections, each one-half the area of the rst top section adapted to, lie thereover or to lie in the same horizontal plane therewith against its side edges, two horizontal bars adapted to be located in alinement underneath the outer edge portions of said additional top sections when located in the same plane with and against the i'lrst top section, means for hingedly connecting the horizontal bars together at their inner adjacent ends, means for mounting said horizontal bars on the'support of the rst top 'section Whereby they may be swung inwardly into positions paralleling the side edges of said first top section,

equal to that of the rst top section,` means hingedly connecting the adjacent edges of the two additional top sections together, and a supporting leg pivotally connected to the under rear side of each of said additional top sections adapted to be 5 folded thereagainst or to be turned outwardly at right angles thereto.

THURLOW E. McFALL. 

